Major League Notebook: No more ‘interim’ tag for Philadelphia skipper

MIAMI — The Philadelphia Phillies announced Pete Mackanin will be their manager in 2016.

Mackanin replaced Ryne Sandberg on an interim basis on June 26. His contract was extended Tuesday through next season with a club option for 2017.

“They asked me if I would accept the contract and I said, ‘Well let me think about it, yes,'” Mackanin said. “It’s an honor and I’m so grateful for Ruben Amaro to put me in the spot that enabled this, for the players for playing hard for me, and for Andy MacPhail to have confidence in me.”

The 64-year-old Mackanin is 30-46 since Sandberg abruptly resigned in the middle of his second full season. The Phillies are 27-32 since the All-Star break.

“I think they responded very well and I think that’s the biggest reason why I got the job,” Mackanin said. “Our record isn’t the best obviously. We’ve been scuffling to score runs and the pitching hasn’t done as well as we would like, but I’m happy. There’s only 30 of these jobs in baseball and I’ve got one of them so I’m looking forward to the future.”

Mackanin has worked for the Phillies for six of the past seven seasons. He served as bench coach from 2009 to 2012 before returning as third-base coach in 2014. He’s the eighth Phillies manager to have also played and coached for the team.

MARLINS: In the strongest indication yet that Manager Dan Jennings won’t be back in that job next year, former MLB skipper Manny Acta interviewed for the job Tuesday, a source said.

It’s also uncertain whether Jennings will return to his former job of general manager.

The next skipper will be owner Jeffrey Loria’s seventh since June 2010.

Acta hasn’t managed since he was fired by the Indians near the end of the 2012 season. He spent three seasons with them, and managed the Washington Nationals in 2007-09.

Acta’s career record is 372-518.

TIGERS: Closer Bruce Rondon was sent home for the remainder of the season, which Manager Brad Ausmus attributed to a sagging “effort level” – an assessment Ausmus said was shared by General Manager Al Avila.

The 25-year-old took over the closer’s role in early August after Joakim Soria was traded, and converted his first two chances without allowing a hit. Rondon missed all of 2014 after Tommy John surgery, and went 1-0 with a 5.81 ERA in 35 games this season.

BLUE JAYS: Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki played catch Tuesday for the first time since suffering a broken left shoulder blade 10 days ago, but there’s still no timetable for his return.

“The pain has died down and I feel better each and every day,” Tulowitzki said.

Tulowitzki has been sidelined since colliding with teammate Kevin Pillar during the first game of a Sept. 12 doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

TWINS: Hitting prospect Max Kepler was promoted from Double-A for the stretch drive.

Kepler joined the wild card-chasing Twins on Tuesday for their game against Cleveland, the day after Kepler helped lead Chattanooga to the Southern League championship.

The 22-year-old native of Berlin batted .322 with 32 doubles, 13 triple, nine home runs and 71 RBIs in 112 games

CARDINALS: All-Star catcher Yadier Molina said he plans to return before the end of the regular season despite a thumb injury.

Molina sustained a slight tear of his left thumb ligament Sunday in a victory against the Cubs.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.